Archive for the ‘Food & Drink’ Category

Sometimes, we’ll be looking ahead into our events calendarand see a grouping of events that would make for one perfect, unforgettable weekend. Then, of course, we just have to share the itinerary we concoct with you. As you may have guessed by now, such an occurrence has entered our radar for the weekend of August 14-16. Tack on a few days to your Portland trip and explore the Tualatin Valley. Itinerary below:

Friday, August 14“Sit by my side, and let the world slip: we shall ne’er be younger.” Live by these words from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew while watching the play at Ponzi Vineyardswith the Willamette Shakespeare production company. As the show is free of charge, you can unwind with an extra glass of wine during the outdoor performance. Show begins at 7 p.m.

Unwind in a casual atmosphere with Forest Grove Uncorked, which features dozens of local wineries, craft breweries and restaurants on the Main Street drag. Admission is $10 and nominal tasting fees may apply.

Sunday, August 16Choose between two great outdoor events. On the mellow side, there is the Tualatin River Family Paddle Day where one enjoys the gentle lapping sounds against a canoe or kayak on a peaceful stretch of the Tualatin River.

Every year, the Washington County Fair doesn’t just pass through the Portland great region. Instead, the fair comes, downright dominates summer fun during its short run and then everyone patiently awaits its return next year. Well, the time has come! The annual Washington County Fair returns to the Washington County Fair Complexin Hillsboro July 30 to August 2, promising a weekend of carnival rides, live music and entertainment, food and more. You simply cannot find this kind of quintessential summertime fun in Portland, but luckily the fair is a quick drive from downtown Portland.

Blue-Ribbon livestock at the Washington County Fair.

Five of our favorite reasons to make it out to the fair this weekend:

1. Affordable Fun Near Portland

Admission to the Washington County Fair is absolutely free. While rides and games are pay-to-play, the unlimited ride wristband lets you ride as many rides as you want for $25 (buy yours here).

2. Carnival Food on a Stick

Diets be gone! Fair day is also on-a-stick day with hand-dipped hot dogs on a stick, funnel cake stick, pork chop on a stick, deep friend bacon on a stick, mac-and-cheese on a stick and Hawaiian pizza on a stick.

3. The Classics: Blue Ribbons and Red-Hot Rides

What’s a county fair without some good, old-fashioned competition? Classic livestock and home economic competition from best dairy cows to the tastiest pies.

4. Best Flea Market in Portland Area

Find unique shopping with this vintage market produced by The Funky Junk Sisters, who have been voted as one of the top 25 flea markets in America by Romantic Homes Magazine.

5. Flo Rida Concert

Chart-topping raps from artist Flo Rida add some modern edge to this year’s Washington County Fair! Gates open at 6 p.m. for the show and admission for this performance is a steal at $25 (tickets here).

Honestly, the reasons to go to this year’s Washington County Fair reaches far, far beyond a measly five—we’re just skimming the surface here. Heck, each carnival game and ride deserves its own ode to joy! Take a ride on the ferris wheel so you can look over your own county fair kingdom!

Beer lovers flock to Portland’s Oregon Brewers Festival every year, which just so happens to be this week. The festival touts 90 different craft beers from around the country, as well as 15 beers from New Zealand and The Netherlands in the International Tent. All in all, the festival is a mecca of sorts for hops lovers.

Make time for some Tualatin Valley brewery visits during the Oregon Brewers Festival weekend.

Of course, Tualatin Valley’s ever-growing community of brewers takes part in the festival action. Because we grow hops, brew it, and enjoy the fruits of our labor better than anyone else, you’ll find three local breweries showcasing some of their more inventive varieties. See below for the skinny (or sudsy) on each:

Ambacht Brewing from Hillsboro will be tapping into its totally original Matzobraü Belgian dark wheat beer, which is made with leftover matzah from the Jewish holiday, Passover, for a kitschy and tasty drink.

Art Larrance’s Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub in the Raleigh Hills Neigborhood brews some of Cascade Brewing’s favorite varieties onsite. Stop by the brewery’s booth for a refreshing barrel-aged sour beer, Frite Gaulois. This brew really is a must-taste not only because of its deliciousness, but also because Art Larrance co-founded the Oregon Brewers Festival—he’s an Oregon brewing icon!

Vertigo Brewing won the coveted Tualatin Valley People’s Choice Award for favorite brewery, which will surely translate to the crowd at the Oregon Brewers Festival, as well. Try the brewery’s Lemongrass Wheat, which is a light American wheat ale with the perfect tang for a summer day.

While the Oregon Brewers Fest will give you the chance to try multiple beers from the Tualatin Valley in one-go, the real aficionados make time for brewery side trips—especially since our breweries are just a few minutes’ drive away the festival. Check out our Get HoppyItineraryfor the weekend (or anytime, really!). Chat with microbrewers, relish in the cool vibes of intimate tasting rooms and taste some truly exception Oregon beer.

Crawfish boils aren’t just for Louisiana. Nope—not for a long time! In fact, The Tualatin Crawfish Festivalis celebrating its 65th year of crawfish-lovin’ fun from July 31 to August 2 at the Tualatin Commons. Whether this is your first crawfish festival or you’re a many-seasoned festival goer, this is an easy, unique and must-see weekend event. As the festival is just a short drive from Portland and has the lovely Century Hotel a stone’s throw away, your weekend getaway is as easy as it is convenient.

In addition to the traditional crawfish boil and crawfish eating contest, the festival celebrates more than crustaceans. Other favorite activities include the ridiculously cute “Atsa My Dawg” costume show, the “Corks and Kegs” area with local sips and brews, a Chef’s Mystery Box Cook-Off and an all new “Food Cart Friday.”

For go-getters and those who just want to work off all the food they’ve been eating at the festival, the Crawfish Crawl includes a 5k, 10k and half marathon option that run through Tigard, Tualatin and Durham. Every participant will receive an InCRAWdible Medal and t-shirt.

Of course, while you’re in the Tualatin Valley you’ll want to scope out other hot happenings in the area. In addition to The Tualatin Crawfish Festival, be sure to make time for these other fun events nearby:

Rosé wines are having a major moment in the Tualatin Valley. Hop in the car for an impromptu wine country weekend—it’s time to see the summer through rose-tinted glasses (and we do mean wine glasses). Next time you’re visiting Portland, make sure to add a few days to your itinerary to try the outstanding rosé varieties at these wineries (all participating in Drink Pink):

Elk Cove VineyardsThe 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé is hand-harvested from both old and young vines in the Willamette Valley that are from higher elevation vineyards on their own rootstock. The result is full flavor with lower alcohol.

Ponzi Vineyards WineryThe Cin Cin Brut Rosé sells out quick every year as its méthode champenoise is rather irresistible. If you miss the Cin Cin, then there’s always other amazing rosé options on hand to try.

Local flavor can—in actuality—mean having quite a bit of exotic flavor. That is certainly the case here in the Tualatin Valley, where many different cultures and histories come together to tell the story of Oregon. With vibrant Hispanic and Asian communities in Beaverton (just minutes from Portland!), we are thrilled to celebrate the beauty of diversity with festivals throughout the summer months. See below for more information.

Beaverton Round | September 12 | freeTaking cues from the night markets found in other countries, the Beaverton Night Market celebrates the city’s many cultures with an evening of delicious food, entertainment and crafts from all over the world.

In addition to festivals, cultural experiences live year-round in the Tualatin Valley, starting at our authentic Mexicanand Asianfood spots.

With Independence Day in summer’s rearview mirror, continue celebrating your freedom to travel and experience new things. Whether you’re extending a business trip, tacking a few days onto a pre-existing trip to Portland or just want to plan getaway with friends, find Tualatin Valley festivals and events to make July the best. See our top 10 suggestions below.

Do you use Yelp, Trip Advisor and the like? We’ve got one more authority to add to your go-to review resources. Enter, the results of the Tualatin Valley People’s Choice Awards. We put the power to the people with our open poll and received a whopping 858 votes. Check out our People’s Choice Weekend Getaway Itinerary, as well as get some extra tips on each winner below.

Favorite Restaurant: ABV Public HouseWhy it’s so great: Housed in an unassuming Hillsboro business park, this spot is like a modern-day speakeasy. Instead of whiskey in bathtubs, find hundreds of bottles of beers and ciders lining the perimeter of the restaurant. What to try: Cheese curds and green chili poutine—‘nough said.When to go: Happy hour falls 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.Who to go with: Take your in-laws as the brews and kitschy décor give lots of conversation fodder.

Favorite Brewery:Vertigo BrewingWhy it’s so great: With just a seven-barrel system, this Hillsboro brewery crafts an impressive array of standout beer. What to try: Friar Mike’s IPA is a quintessential Oregonian beer with lots of Northwest hops.When to go: A few hours before the Hillsboro Hops game for a happy-go-lucky crowd of sports fans.Who to go with: Your sports buddies!

Favorite Winery Experience: Árdíri VineyardsWhy it’s so great: This Cornelius vineyard is the perfect mix of elegance and romance—without the pretentious veneer. What to try: The 2011 Due Stati is in its peak drinking years right now. Salud!When to go: A clear day, mid-afternoon will bring you amazing views of Mt. Hood. Who to go with: Cuddle up with your honey around one of the vineyard’s cozy fire pits.

Connecting with nature and connecting with your family is a simultaneous experience here in the Tualatin Valley. In the end, one of life’s greatest gifts is sharing what you love with who you love. Beaverton locals, the father-daughter pair of Gunnar Simonsen and Kira Simonsen, have a special tradition of exploring and photographing the Tualatin Valley via their stellar Instagram accounts, @GunnarSimonsen and @Hoopla68. We caught up with the two for their insider tips!

Gunnar Simonsen’s drive by beauty capture of the Tualatin Valley.

What are your favorite places to photograph in the Tualatin Valley?Gunnar: I absolutely love Cooper Mountain Nature Park. At sunrise, you can catch an amazing glow on the trails. Or an hour before sunset, the shadows that poke through the trees make for some incredibly emotive photography.

Kira: I have fallen in love with Dawson Creek. The reflection off the water is unreal. The chalkboard tunnel is so unique and brings a creative aspect to the park. It was very cool to be able to see the baby geese and ducks there this spring. How did you begin photographing together? Kira: In 2013, we both got iPhones and just started taking pictures. Once, we went to Rood Bridge Park and uploaded at least 15 pictures each onto Instagram. Photography has brought us closer together over the years. It’s good to get away from an internet and just experience what’s around you.

What tips do you have for novice photographers?Gunnar: Seek to find the story in everything and tell it with photography. In this, think less and explore more. I love Cooper Mountain Nature Park. I walked those trails hundreds of times and I have taken hundreds of pictures and yet every time, there’s always a new story waiting to be told. So… tell it.

What do you love most about the 4th of July? For some it’s the crackle-pop of fireworks lighting up the sky. For others, it’s a chance to get out and be active. Additionally, it’s hard to resist a kitschy Independence Day festival. No matter how you choose celebrate freedom this coming 4th of July, we’ve got the events and attractions to match it. Just a few minutes’ drive from Portland, the Tualatin Valley is a perfectly patriotic escape for the holiday weekend. See our ideas below!